Historical Markers in Putnam County

Historical Marker at Cascade Park along the Auglaize River north of Kalida, OH
Home in the Wilderness 1821-1870.

Built in 1821 downstream a quarter mile on the Auglaize west bank by
Sebastian Stroufe, War of 1812 veteran, and wife, Mary, this house was
postal stop Sugar Grove on the Ft. Recovery-Ft. Defiance route and
in 1828, Perry Township organization meeting site. On January 14, 1829
Sebastian was appointed the first postmaster in Putnam County. Seven
years after Sebastian's death in 1830, Mary wed Judge John Perkins
Brunersburg Mill owner, and leased her Auglaize River home. Pearson B.
Holden, Christian Union Church pastor, and wife, Priscilla (Ridenour)
were operating this double log home as a tavern housing up to thirty
travelers a night in 1848, when Henry Howe sketched the
Home-in-the-Wilderness for his Historical Collections of Ohio.

HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF OHIO by Henry Howe. p. 465

"The view, 'A Home in the Wilderness' represents a log tavern in the
western part of the county, on the road to Charloe. It was built about
thirty years since by two men, assisted by a female. It has long been a
favorite stopping-place for travellers, as many as twenty or thirty
having, with their horses, frequently tarried here over night, when
journeying through the wilderness. The situation is charming. It is on
the banks of the Auglaize, which flows in a ravine some fifteen or
twenty feet below. All around stand massive trees, with foliage
luxuriantly developed by the virgin fertility of the soil, while
numerous branches lave in the passing waters. We came suddenly upon the
place on a pleasant day in June, 1846, and were so much pleased with
its primitive simplicity and loveliness as to stop and make a more
familiar acquaintance. We alighted from our fatihful 'Pomp' turned him
loose among the fresh grass, drew our portfolio from our saddle-bags, and while he was
rolling amid the clover in full liberty, and the ladies of the house
were seated sewing in the open space between the parts of the cabin,
fanned by a gentle breeze--we took a sketch as a memorial of a scene we
shall never forget, and to present to our readers a view of "A Home in
the Wilderness."

TRAVELLING NOTES

"The foregoing
comprises about all my old account of Putnam county.
Indeed, the entire county then was largely forest and water.
The most interesting point is my picture of the 'Home in the
Wilderness.' That picture proved to be one of the most
attractive things in my old book. It seemed to touch a chord
in the hearts of multitudes who had begun life in the midst of such
scenes. It is noteworthy that now, after the lapse of
forty-three years, I should receive a letter from a stranger, a then
boy, who sat by my side when I drew that picture, which tells me all
the circumstances, but which I had long since forgotten."

His letter is from Dawn, Darke county, Ohio, dated April 2, 1889,
and signed S.S. Holden. It gives some interesting things about the old
home, long since vanished. It was prompted partly by learning that the
painter of an oil painting of it had put in the claim that his painting
was an original design of his own.

We quote:
"I am by profession a minister
of the Gospel, of the United Brethren Church (in Christ). I will be
qualified that the picture on your letter-head is a picture of the man
who drew the sketch of our home about the year 1846. I am a son of P.B.
Holden, whose name appears on the sign as you drew it. I was then
14 years old, and recollect it about as vividly as if it had occurred
but yesterday--your riding into the yard on horseback; getting off your
horse; laying your paper, pencils, etc. about you on the old sled or
mud boat, which lay in the yard at that time, and is shown in the
picture, and watching you draw the scene. Such an occurrence was too
rare not to make an impression on a boy like me. A man named Sebastian
Srouge built the house. He died and was buried near there. Two of his
sons were named George and Albert--the latter was a school teacher. His
widow married Judge Perkins, and they moved to Williams county. While
you were making the sketch, my mother and a lady school teacher sat in
the open space between the two rooms, sewing. Before you had completed
it my brother and a Mr. Whiting came through the yard where we were
sitting, having been to a deer lick; One of them carried his gun at
trail arms and the other carried his gun on his shoulder, and with them was our dog Tyler.
It was well the dog was along. His name marks the era of the event and
helps to confirm the truth of Mr. Holden's statement. The hard-cider
campaign had only passed a few years before, when the old Whigs had
sung "For Tippecanoe and Tyler too." Hence it was natural for them to thus name their dogs
"Tip" for Tippecanoe and "Tyler" for Tyler too. Humor comes from
incongruous associations so Mark Twain named his jumping frog Daniel
Webster--both were heavy-weights: one from brains and brawn, the other
from shot. The "Home" was on the main route from Kalida to Charloe,
about five miles northwest of the former. The Samuel Holden, who lived
there as stated, was an United Brethren clergyman. So the home seemed
to have done service as both parsonage and tavern. Later, as I have
been told, the Rev. Branson Good made it his home, and the building
stood until about thirty years since. Since receiving the letter from
his son, I find in the Pioneer
Reminiscences of the county a statement by Mr. George Skinner which
leads me to believe that this was the first house built in Putnam
County. He says: "The first building that could be designated a house
was erected by two men and a woman in section 21, Perry township, by
Sebastian Sroufe." He then states it
was on the Auglaize, and that he was buried close by.*************************************************************************************Historical Marker at Cascade Parkalong the Auglaize River north of Kalida, OH,
Home in the Wilderness 1821-1870

Built in 1821 downstream a quarter mile on the Auglaize west bank by
Sebastian Stroufe, War of 1812 veteran, and wife, Mary, this house was
postal stop Sugar Grove on the Ft. Recovery-Ft. Defiance route and
in 1828, Perry Township organization meeting site. On January 14, 1829
Sebastian was appointed the first postmaster in Putnam County. Seven
years after Sebastian's death in 1830, Mary wed Judge John Perkins
Brunersburg Mill owner, and leased her Auglaize River home. Pearson B.
Holden, Christian Union Church pastor, and wife, Priscilla (Ridenour)
were operating this double log home as a tavern housing up to thirty
travelers a night in 1848, when Henry Howe sketched the
Home-in-the-Wilderness for his Historical Collections of Ohio.*************************************************************************************